The Peter Benchley Collection: Jaws, A Life of Writing, A Legacy of Stories

Collection of Peter Benchley Photographs and Ephemera

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Start price: $150

Estimated price: $300 - $500

Buyer's Premium:

Description

Collection of photographs and press ephemera documenting the life and career of Peter Benchley (American, 1940-2006) with handwritten provenance and context notes from Wendy Benchley. The group includes color and black-and-white professional and personal photographs, featuring Benchley diving, participating in marine expeditions in Turks and Caicos and the Sea of Cortez, and interacting with marine life such as manta rays and sharks. A color print features a credit for underwater photographer Stan Waterman. The collection is supplemented by an ABC Visual Communication press release for The American Sportsman, which credits Benchley and oceanographer Sylvia Earle in the Stella Maris, Bahamas, and a Discovery Channel promotional sheet for Shark Week ’94. Largest: 14 x 11 in.

From the personal collection of Peter Benchley (American, 1940–2006), acclaimed author of Jaws, accomplished diver, and prominent advocate for ocean and shark conservation.


Condition report:

The collection is in good vintage condition. Observable defects include minor corner and edge wear across several prints and ephemera. Adhesive residue and staining are present on the reverse of some photographs. One large color print shows noticeable color shifting and fading. Several handwritten notes are on adhesive paper attached to the surface of the items.